Wickedly witty

For some, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe conjures up an image of slightly ham-fisted amateur dramatics by student wannabes with a few A-list stand-ups thrown in to make it worthwhile.

But the world’s biggest arts festival has always been much more than that.

It is an event that provides a chance for unknown playwrights, actors and comedians to do something different, to break the mould, to say something meaningful – and make it big as a result.

Ulster American, a sell-out show at the Traverse, has been described as an “ill-tempered but wickedly witty hurricane” by The Scotsman’s Joyce Mcmillan. And, after winning the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award, the production will now be put on in New York. The play may not be to everyone’s liking but critics seem to agree that it is an astonishing piece of theatre.

The Fringe wouldn’t be the Fringe without its anarchical, almost punk sensibilities – the idea that anyone can at least attempt to put on a show. That, of course, does lead to some absolute turkeys, but also more than a few sure-fire hits.